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In Our View: Mielke’s Appeal Is Absurd

County councilor’s effort to oust illustrates his inability to govern well

The Columbian
Published: September 1, 2016, 6:03am

Tom Mielke’s effort to launch a recall against three fellow Clark County councilors has reached the point of absurdity. We would say it has reached the point of comedy — except it is needlessly costing taxpayers money, so for now, we’ll stick with absurdity.

Mielke, who is not seeking re-election to the council, has filed an appeal to revive a petition to recall council Chair Marc Boldt, and councilors Jeanne Stewart and Julie Olson. The petition was dismissed July 29, when visiting Cowlitz County Superior Court Judge Stephen Warning determined that it did not meet the legal or factual requirements necessary to be placed before voters. Mielke’s appeal will be heard by the state Supreme Court, which must rule within 30 days of the Aug. 22 filing. Kristin Asai, an attorney who has represented the three council members who are the target of the petition, said: “From our perspective, the trial court’s decision was well-reasoned and based on the law, but Councilor Mielke has the right to appeal.”

Indeed. But just because you can do something doesn’t mean that you should, and Mielke’s continued obstinacy simply adds to what has been a sad chapter in the history of Clark County governance. And it adds to the list of invoices that Mielke and fellow councilor David Madore have foisted upon taxpayers in a series of poorly conceived and poorly executed maneuvers. For councilors who profess adherence to budget-conscious decision-making, the two routinely have violated the precepts of that philosophy in desperate attempts to cling to their last vestiges of power on the council.

In large part because of the fashion in which Madore and Mielke ruled the three-person council, voters approved a county charter in 2014 to remake local government. Since that charter was fully implemented with the addition of two councilors at the start of this year, relegating Madore and Mielke to a minority, the duo has been unable to grasp some basic tenets of governance: compromise, reconciliation and deal-making.

All of this has led to the absurdity in which Mielke has accused fellow councilors of malfeasance and misfeasance. And in the process, it has revealed the utter inability of Mielke and Madore to effectively serve their constituents. The irony is that Stewart and Olson are Republicans — just like Mielke and Madore — and Boldt is a longtime Republican who stated no party preference in running for council chair.

While political disagreements are still to be expected, one would think that Mielke and Madore would be able to find common ground on some issues with their fellow councilors. Instead, they have persistently opted to exploit divisions rather than seek unification. Undoubtedly, some critics will blame Boldt, Olson and Stewart for those divisions; they would be wrong. Madore signaled his intransigence in the weeks before the council expanded to five members, pushing through measures that he certainly knew would come under fire once the full council was seated. That raft of legislation ended any hope that Madore was paying attention when voters rejected his opposition to the county charter and his support of a write-in candidate for county chair.

Now, mercifully, it is coming to an end. Mielke did not run for re-election, and Madore did not advance out of the primary in his attempt to retain his seat. Soon, we hope, the county council will be able to focus upon governance rather than the circus that is surrounding it. But first there is one more instance of absurdity to be dealt with.

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